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The White House confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official procedure for letting employees go.

While the official provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson noted that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union for federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the moves in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver critical services to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the news, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved soon.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the government from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the very day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the final days of the previous month but excluding the start of October, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the period.

Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, condemned the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government running,” the advocate said. The flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.